Streaming Options for In-Person Classroom Lectures

Many face-to-face or staggered classes may need an alternative way for students to view in-person classroom lectures. There are several options for replacing in-classroom lectures, all of which are commonly referred to as "streaming". These include: lecture capture (one-way asynchronous streaming), one-way live streaming (synchronous), and two-way live streaming (synchronous).

Lecture Capture (One-way Asynchronous  Stream) One-way Live Stream (Synchronous) Two-way Live Stream (Synchronous) HyFlex (In-Person, Two-way Live Stream and Lecture Capture)
Description Class session is recorded (such as with a smartphone or web conferencing) and made available digitally to students after class meeting, students watch recording and interact asynchronously Class session is broadcast live via web conferencing (1-2 video inputs such as a camera, computer screen, or document camera) while teaching face-to-face class, students watch live but do not interact synchronously Class session is broadcast live via web conferencing (1-2 video inputs such as a camera, computer screen, or document camera) while teaching face-to-face class, students watch live and interact live during scheduled class meeting time Class session is broadcast live via web conferencing (1-2 video inputs such as a camera, computer screen, or document camera) while teaching face-to-face class, students watch live and interact live during scheduled class meeting time 
Student Experience Students watch recordings and participate asynchronously Students watch live but participate asynchronously Students watch broadcast live (1-2 inputs) and participate in real-time Students choose whether to attend in-person, watch broadcast live, or watch recording
Faculty Experience Simpler for faculty to manage than 2-way live stream Simpler for faculty to manage than 2-way live stream Added steps, both technical and pedagogical, to engage both in-person and remote live audiences Added steps, both technical and pedagogical, to engage both in-person and remote live audiences and offer asynchronous participation options
Network Bandwidth Demands Low network demands for remote students, high network demands on campus network if using web conferencing High network demands on both campus network and remote students’ bandwidth High network demands on both campus network and remote students’ bandwidth High network demands on both campus network and remote students’ bandwidth
Accessibility Recordings automatically machine captioned at 95% accuracy if the recording is posted to Kaltura, can be further edited to achieve 100% Requires live captionist or sign language interpreter (may require separate platform) Requires live captionist or sign language interpreter (may require separate platform) Requires live captionist or sign language interpreter (may require separate platform)
Advantages
  • Most flexible solution
  • Lowest bandwidth requirement for students
  • Works in locations with low- or no-tech by using smartphone to film
  • Time-sensitive solution
  • Easier for faculty to manage
  • Closest solution to live in-person class
  • Most flexible for students
Disadvantages
  • Asynchronous viewing and participation only
  • Many variables that can impact the user experience (high probability for failure)
  • Significant network bandwidth speed needed by students to view
  • Student experience is limited because they cannot participate or interact
  • Many variables that can impact the user experience (high probability for failure)
  • Significant network bandwidth speed needed by students to view
  • High-touch support needed
  • Requires high levels of set up and management by faculty
  • Many variables that can impact the user experience (high probability for failure)
  • Most challenging for faculty to manage
  • Difficult to plan for and monitor student engagement across multiple modalities

For more details or to discuss further the streaming options for your course, reach out to the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, citl@niu.edu.

Teaching Support

CITL staff are available to answer your teaching questions. Give us a call at 815-753-0595 or email citl@niu.edu for assistance. You can also schedule an appointment with one of our staff.

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Contact Us

Center for Innovative
Teaching and Learning

Phone: 815-753-0595
Email: citl@niu.edu

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